Ciaran found himself facing a big man with dark, curly hair. “Zeus,” he said. “I never forget a face. You’re still here?”
“I am.”
“Is my daughter?”
“She is.”
“Then tell her I have come to see her.”
“Is she expecting you?”
“She is not.”
Zeus’ gaze lingered on him a moment, a haughty gaze, for he was well aware of Ciaran le Daire and his gambling debts. They all knew that Desdra was there because of those debts, becauseof a father who paid for his weakness with his own flesh and blood.
“I will fetch her,” Zeus said after a moment. “You may wait in the reception room.”
He was indicating the chamber to the right of the entry. There was a fire in it, comfortable chairs, but no food. That was in the feasting room with the mosaic on the floor. Knowing this, Ciaran ignored Zeus’ invitation and went into the feasting room, where a couple of men were finding sustenance for the morning. There was a warm, mulled drink of apple juice mixed with wine as well as a half-dozen dishes that were being kept in warm pots.
As Ciaran picked over the food and demanded wine from a nearby servant, Zeus headed up the stairs to the solar where Desdra was. She was seated at the table and carefully writing in one of the ledgers. It seemed that she was always there, always writing in those ledgers.
He cleared his throat softly.
“Desdra?” he said quietly. “Are you terribly busy?”
Desdra looked over her shoulder at the man who, during the course of her residency at The Feast, had tried to court her more than once. She liked him very much, but she simply wasn’t interested in anything romantic with him, much to his disappointment. But to Zeus’ credit, he was always professional and courteous with her, even when she’d broken his heart repeatedly.
“Simply going over accounts,” she said. “Why? Do you require something?”
Zeus stepped into the chamber. “Nay,” he said, shaking his head. “I’ve come to tell you that your father has arrived. He has asked to see you.”
The calm expression vanished from her face and she looked at Zeus in surprise. “My… myfather?” she gasped. “Here?”
“Aye,” he said. “He said that you did not know he was coming.”
She shook her head. “Nay,” she said, struggling with her shock. “I did not. I have not heard from him in almost a year.”
“Well, he’s here now.”
“Did he say what he wanted?”
Zeus shook his head. “Nay,” he said. “He simply asked me to fetch you. Do you want me to bring him up here?”
Desdra took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm. The unexpected arrival of her father had her rattled more than she cared to admit. Although she knew he was still alive, she had been hoping he’d forget about her and go on with his life.
“Aye, bring him up here,” she said after a moment. “I do not want anyone seeing him. And I do not want anyone hearing him, though when you bring him up here, please have someone on the stair landing outside the door in case I need assistance. I do not trust my father, sorry to say. Not knowing why he is here, I cannot vouch for my own safety.”
Zeus knew that. Having seen Ciaran at The Feast over the years, there had been a few occasions when they’d been forced to either subdue the man or escort him out because of his violent tendencies.
“Have no fear,” he said. “I will stand on the landing myself.”
“Thank you,” she said, though it was clear she was unhappy about the situation. “Show him in. Let’s see what he wants this time.”
Zeus simply waggled his eyebrows in sympathy before heading out. When he was gone, Desdra sighed sharply and moved away from the table, over to the hearth and its comfortable chairs. Her father’s appearance was a distinct shock, but not too unexpected in hindsight. He’d been known to come around from time to time, but, as she’d said, she hadn’t seen him in nearly a year.
A lot could happen in a year.
So she waited.
